Al-Nahar reported on Wednesday, according to testimonies following the arrest of one of Fatah el-Islam cadres in Tripoli, that the Leader of “al-Qaida-inspired” Fatah al-Islam “Shaker el- Abssi” has been smuggled to Syria for $500.
The arrest was connected with the assassinations of Lebanese army officers Francois al-Hajj and Wissam Eid.
Examining magistrate Emile Sari indicted 26 Palestinians that are part of 'terrorist cell' believed to be behind a string of bombings last year, including the Sept. 29 roadside car bomb explosion that killed five soldiers and two civilians in Tripoli.
The Lebanese forces also arrested Lebanese members of Fatah Islam, as well as five fugitives for Tripoli's Bank Streets bombing Aug. 13, 2008 that killed 18 people, mostly soldiers.
Judge Sari accused the suspects of establishing an armed gang with the intent to kill soldiers and civilians and undermine the state's security, the daily reported.
Among the defendants were Fatah Islam's alleged new leader, Abdel-Ghani Ali Jawhar, a 25-year-old from the northern Akkar region, and Obeid Mubarak Abed Al Kafil, a Saudi.
The indictment, which was based on the testimonies of the defendants, detailed stories about how Abssi had been smuggled into Syria.
According to the newspaper, Hamzeh al-Qassem revealed that he used to send food to Abssi and his men who were hiding in the town of “Markabta” after fleeing Nahr al-Bared refugee camp with the help of “Khaled Seif.”
Qassem said that it was Seif who helped Abbsi getting out of Nahr-el Bared after he smuggled him in a loaded cement pickup truck to the nearby Baddawi refugee camp.
Abssi stayed in touch with Abdul Rahman Awad, who takes shelter in the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh, over a mobile phone.
Qassem also added that in one of his meeting with Abssi, the latter received a phone call from Awad who informed him of the successful bombing attack against General Francois el-Hajj. Moreover, it was also Awad who delivered to Abssi the news about the bombing that targeted Capt. Wissam Eid.
Al-Nahar added that Upon Abssi's request, Qassem contacted Mustafa Dandal who took care of smuggling Abssi as well as Abu Ali, Abu Hisham, Abu Tabet al-Tunisi, Abu al-Khabab, Abu Ahmad, and Abu al-Walid to Syria in return for $500 for each person. Adnan, aka Haroun, and Ali al-Ahmed helped Dandal transport Abssi and his gang in a Mitsubishi van.
Judge Sari dismissed charges against 16 others detainees implicated in the Aug. 13 bombing for lack of evidence... No trial date has been se the Newspaper concluded.